A godlye and learned treatise wherein is proued the true iustificacion of a Christian manne to come frely of the mercy of god in Christ, without the deseruyng of man by his merites: and also how good workes oughte to bee done [and] what be true good works in dede. Whereunto is ioyned a co[n]ference betwene the law and the gospel, very profitable for al men to exercise themselues therin.

Thes sayings: we are iustified by the grace of god, or by Christs merites, or by fayth, varie not. (Book 7)

The. 7. Chapter. (Book 7)

NEther can I thynke, that eny man, which is but a litle exercised in holie scripture, wil stomble or be offended at such kynd and maner of speche: We are ius∣tified thorow the grace of god, or

horow the merites of Christ, we are iustified by faith on the lorde Iesus: as though thei eny where dyd not agree, or ascrybed Iusti∣ficacion to vnlike thinges. For thei are all one in effecte, ascry∣bing iustificacion to the onelie mercie of god, to whom onelye the prophetes and Apostles di∣rected all their vnderstandinge & meditacion. These, as oft as thei loked behind thē to the fountaine and well spring of iustificacion, saide, that men are iustified tho∣row the grace of god. But whan thei had pondered & considered the mercy pledge, & him, by whō we are iustified, thei sayd: We ar made rightuous by Christ. And whan thei called to remembraūce it, wherby we become partakers of grace and of Christ, thei saide, that we are iustified by faith.

Nether were thei for all this

careful, that their sayenges shuld not agree together and serue the mater: As some curious bodies * 1.1 do sharplie dispute: Namelie, whether faith be rightuousnes, or an instrument and meane to becōe partakers of rightuousnes: whether it be an instrument to receaue, or a thing where thorow rightuousnes is poured in as tho¦row a tonnell: Or whether it be the rightuousnes itselfe &c. After this sorte is mans vnderstanding occupied, but what auayleth it vnto true godlines? The holie A∣postles, who alwaie studied sim∣plicitie with playnesse, they di∣stinctly expresse and declare, that god, the grace of god, Christ and faith iustifieth. Itē that by grace, by christ and by faith we ar iusti∣fied. Which symplicitie I, myn∣dinge to folowe, leaue such sub∣tile curiositie vnto others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sharpe disputaci∣ons of this mater.